Union School officials react to judge uphelding a student's suspension

Friday, July 19th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa Union Schoolâ€™s suspension of a student is upheld in federal court. Union school officials said in a news conference Friday morning that the 2-year old suspension case is a matter of student safety not student rights.

The school says they suspended Brandi Blackbear twice in April and December of 1999 for harassing and threatening to kill classmates. Blackbear sued Union Schools in October of 2000 claiming the school suspended her for practicing the Wicca religion. But a judge found that Union was justified in taking action against Blackbear.

School superintendent, Dr Cathy Burden, "We are very pleased to be vindicated by the federal judge at this point and we feel that this case never should have gotten to this point and certainly shouldnâ€™t go forward with an appeal." School attorney Doug Mann, â€œWe felt from the very beginning that it would end up where it is right now. And of course it has. I think the court wrote a bullet-proof opinion."

Blackbear's attorney says he will appeal the decision.